LEED Green Associate Candidate Handbook - Green Building Certification Institute - Valid for May 2012
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LEED Green Associate
Candidate Handbook
Valid for May 2012
Green Building Certification Institute
2101 L Street NW, Suite 650 • Washington, DC 20037 • www.gbci.org
1.800.795.1746 • +1.202.828.1145 • www.gbci.org/contactGBCI Candidate Handbook ii
LEED® Green Associate Candidate Handbook, revised May 2012.
COPYRIGHT 2008 by Green Building Certification Institute
Information in this Handbook represents current policies and procedures for a LEED
professional credentialing exam. Information in this Handbook supersedes informa-
tion contained in any previously published information.
This booklet may not be brought into the examination.
Eligibility standards, exam content, exam standards, fees, and guidelines are subject
to change.
Please read and understand the entire Handbook including all policies, procedures, and consequences.
Changes to the Candidate Handbook
Summary of change Section(s) affected Edition
Candidates must be 18 years or over to take the exam Applying for Your Exam May 2010
Information on scored and unscored exam questions added Preparing for Your Exam May 2010
As of September 1, 2010, the references for the LEED Green Preparing for Your Exam July 2010
Associate exam will be revised. (See References on page 14.)
A copy of the student ID is no longer required for student pricing. Applying for Your Exam July 2010
Instruction for requesting an application extension provided Applying for Your Exam July 2010
LEED 2009 Minimum Program Requirements and LEED 2009 MPR Preparing for Your Exam November 2010
Supplemental Guidance v1 (USGBC, 2009) added as references for
the LEED Green Associate exam
Certificates are available in two forms: softcopy (PDF) and a hard- After Your Exam February 2011
copy. You can view and download the softcopy at any time for free.
You can request one free hardcopy each reporting period. Each
additional copy costs $25. If you pass the exam(s) and earn a LEED
Professional Credential, you will receive an email notifying you
that you can now request your certificate.
LEED 2009 MPR Supplemental Guidance v1 (USGBC, 2009) Preparing for Your Exam March 2011
removed as a reference for the LEED Green Associate exam
LEED Green Associate and LEED AP BD+C exams now available in Preparing for Your Exam March 2011
French.
Green Building and LEED Core Concepts Guide, 2nd edition will Preparing for Your Exam July 2011
replace the 1st edition as a reference for the LEED Green Associate
Exam in December 2011
Construction Carbon Calculator and GBCI website added as Preparing for Your Exam August 2011
references for the LEED Green Associate exam
Valid for May 2012GBCI Candidate Handbook 1
Table of Contents
1) 5 Things Every Candidate Should Know........................................................ 2
2) Applying for Your Exam................................................................................... 3
Applying for an Exam
Eligibility Requirements
Audits
Special Testing Accommodations
Student Pricing
Registering for an Exam
Application Period
Application Extensions
3) Preparing for Your Exam................................................................................ 8
Exam Information
Exam Item Development
Exam Language
Determining Passing Score
Exam Fees
Exam Format
Exam Timing
Specifications
References
Sample Questions
4) Scheduling Your Exam................................................................................... 15
Exam Scheduling
Bulk Scheduling
Confirm, Cancel, or Reschedule Exam Appointment
Failing to Appear for a Scheduled Exam
Inclement Weather or Other Emergencies
5) Pre-Exam Checklist....................................................................................... 18
6) The Day of Your Exam.................................................................................... 19
Identification Requirements
Name Requirements
Computer-Based Testing
Exam Scoring
Test Security
What to Expect at the Test Center
Test Center Regulations
Grounds for Dismissal from Test Center
7) After Your Exam............................................................................................. 23
Exam Results
Passing the Exam
Designating your credential
Certificates
Credential Maintenance Program
Retesting for your credential
Earning the LEED AP after the LEED Green Associate
Failing the Exam
Retaking the Exam
Veterans Administration Benefits
Exam Content Appeals
Candidate Confidentiality
Contact Information........................................................................................... 24
Valid for May 2012GBCI Candidate Handbook 2
1) 5 Things Every Candidate Should Know
1. Ensure that your given name (first name) and surname (last name) in My Credentials matches the
given name and surname on the identification you will present at the test center. (See page 21.)
If the names do not match, you will not be allowed to test and you will forfeit the exam fee.
2. For USGBC members: to receive member pricing for your exam, you must have linked your
member status to your USGBC account (at www.usgbc.org > Your Account > Membership) prior to
registration. For CaGBC members: to receive member pricing for your exam, you must have linked your
member status to your My Credentials account (by calling GBCI customer service at +1-202-828-1145)
prior to registration. The member discount is not automatically applied retroactively to exam registrations
that are submitted under non-member pricing.
3. To change or cancel your exam appointment you must do so through Prometric no later than
midnight on the third day before your scheduled examination. All exam appointments cancelled/
rescheduled 30 days or less before the examination date are charged a $50 fee. If you do not receive a
new confirmation number from Prometric, contact them immediately to confirm that your appointment
has been successfully cancelled/rescheduled. (See page 17.)
Keep your confirmation notice for any communication with Prometric about your exam.
4. The only field you cannot edit in your My Credentials account is the name. (If you need to change
your name, please contact GBCI credentialing staff at www.gbci.org/contact > Name Changes or at
1-800-795-1746, within the US, or at +1-202-828-1145, outside the US.) Every other field, including
username, email address, password, street address, company affiliation, etc., can be changed, so there is
no reason to create a new account when you change jobs, locations, or job titles.
5. If you have a documented disability that would prevent you from taking a LEED Professional
Credentialing exam under standard conditions, you may request a reasonable accommodation as required
by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Prometric certifies that it shall comply with the provisions
of the ADA. (See page 7.)
Valid for May 2012GBCI Candidate Handbook 3
2) Applying for Your Exam
Applying for an Exam
1. Log in to My Credentials. If you do not have an account, select “First Time Here?” to create one.
2. Select “Apply for a credential exam” from your Current Options. (If you do not see this option, it means
that you are not eligible for the exam. You may not have more than one active application at a time.
Contact customer service if you have any questions.)
3. Review and, if applicable, update your profile.
4. Verify that your given name (first name) and surname (last name) in My Credentials matches the given
name and surname on the identification you will present at the test center; if it does not, contact GBCI staff
at www.gbci.org/contact > Name Changes or at 1-800-795-1746, within the US, and +1-202-828-1145,
outside the US, as you cannot update it yourself.
5. Select your LEED Professional Directory preferences; if you are choosing to be listed, please enter a city, state
(ZZ if outside the US and Canada), and country. Press “Submit.”
6. Select your credentialing route. Press “Submit.”
7. Select your eligibility pathway: project involvement, employment, or education.
8. Enter the details of your eligibility and upload your supporting documentation. Upload your
documentation of eligibility. (See Eligibility Requirements on the next page for more information.) Press
“Submit.”
9. Select whether you would like to request student pricing. (See Student Pricing on page 8 for more
information.) Press “Submit.”
10. Select whether you would like special testing accommodations based on the Americans with Disabilities Act
(ADA). (See Special Testing Accommodations on page 7 for more information.) Press “Submit.”
11. Review your exam application. Once you have confirmed that all information is correct and all
documentation is uploaded, press “Submit.” At this time, you may return to the main menu and leave your
application incomplete; however, your application will not be processed until it is completed and submitted.
12. Read GBCI’s Candidate Terms and Conditions, Disciplinary and Exam Appeals Policy, and CMP Guide. Affirm
that you have read and agree to all documents by electronic signature. Press “Submit.”
13. Select the credit or debit card type (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover) with which you will
pay the $50 non-refundable LEED Green Associate application fee. Press “Pay fee.”
14. Enter the card number, expiration date, cardholder name, and billing address of the credit or debit card with
which you will pay the non-refundable application fee. Press “Process Payment.” Do NOT hit the button
more than once; doing so may cause multiple charges on your credit or debit card. Once your payment
has been processed, it cannot be refunded; please ensure that you are applying for the correct
exam before proceeding.
15. You will receive an on-screen notification that your application is complete and will be provided with your
application number.
You will receive notice within seven days that your application is approved or, if more information is required,
incomplete. If your application is approved, you can proceed to registration. (See Registering for an Exam on
page 8.) If the application is denied or expires (see Application Period on page 9), you must wait 90 days before
reapplying.
Valid for May 2012GBCI Candidate Handbook 4
Eligibility Requirements
2) Applying for Your Exam
To take the LEED Green Associate exam, you must have experience in the form of involvement on a LEED®-
registered or certified project, employment (or previous employment) in a sustainable field of work, or
engagement in (or completion of) an education program that addresses green building principles. You only have
to meet one of these criteria to demonstrate eligibility.
Your experience must be documented in the form of a letter of attestation from a supervisor, client, project
manager, or teacher and must describe your involvement on the job or in the classroom. Your eligibility
documentation should meet these requirements:
• The letter must be on letterhead or provide other evidence of its authenticity.
• The body of the attestation should be limited to 750 words or less.
• The letter must be dated.
• The letter must be authored and signed by a supervisor, client, project manager, teacher, or someone else
qualified to evaluate the applicant’s performance.
• The author’s title and relationship to the applicant should be demonstrated, for example the author’s
business card.
• The letter must summarize and confirm the applicant’s participation in one of the three qualifying
experience categories (project involvement, employment, or education).
• For eligibility based on project involvement:*
• For the LEED Green Associate credential, a person who provides support on a LEED®-registered or
certified project could be a person who aids or assists on a project by providing administrative or
research tasks, managing templates, coordinating meetings, tracking consultants and/or contractors,
or helping in compiling documentation for review. This list is not meant to be exhaustive, but is
meant to provide guidance for candidates with their application.
• The letter must name a specific LEED®-registered or certified project
• The letter must affirm that the applicant was involved with the project
• The letter must provide the date(s) of the applicants involvement with the project
• For eligibility based on employment:
• The letter must explain how the applicant’s profession or company relates to environmentalism or the
green building industry
• The letter must affirm the applicant’s employment and provide the applicant’s job title or company
• The letter must provide the applicant’s date(s) of employment
• For eligibility based on education:**
• The document must provide the course’s title and provider
• The document must explain how the course relates to green building principles or LEED
• The document must affirm that the candidate was enrolled in the course
• The document must provide the applicant’s date(s) of enrollment
*In order to verify project participation through LEED Online, please submit a screenshot which captures the
project name and date, as well as your name and your access to/role within the project.
**For candidates who have attended or are attending an education program that addresses green building
principles, GBCI will accept a certificate of completion or an official transcript in lieu of a letter of attestation. Any
other eligibility documentation must be in the form of a letter of attestation.
Candidates must also agree to the Disciplinary and Exam Appeals Policy and credentialing maintenance
requirements, must submit to an application audit, and must be 18 years of age or older.
Valid for May 2012GBCI Candidate Handbook 5
Audits
2) Applying for Your Exam
Five to seven percent of all applications will be audited; you will be notified immediately if you are chosen for an
audit and will be notified of your eligibility within seven to ten business days
GBCI also reserves the right to conduct an audit at any time (including prior to application submission and
after accreditation) of all current and past exam applications. Any information contained in a My Credentials
account may be audited and a request for further documentation of any information or claims submitted by the
LEED Professional may be made at any time. GBCI further reserves the right to take disciplinary or legal action
(including but not limited to revocation of credential(s)) in the event that any conduct discovered during such an
audit violates the LEED Professional Disciplinary and Exam Appeals Policy, GBCI policy, and/or law.
Special Testing Accommodations
If you have a documented disability that would prevent you from taking a LEED professional exam under normal
testing conditions, you may request reasonable accommodations as required by law. Reasonable accommodations
are granted to ensure that every candidate has the opportunity to test on a level field with other candidates,
but not to provide any candidate with an unfair advantage over other candidates. Accommodation requests are
considered on a case by case basis.
Prometric certifies that it shall comply with the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Under the
ADA, entities that administer standardized examinations must offer the examinations in a place and manner that
is accessible to candidates with disabilities. This may require reasonable modifications to the manner in which the
test is administered. Prometric will provide candidates reasonable auxiliary aids and services, except where it may
fundamentally alter the validity of the exam results. Available accommodations include, but are not limited to, a
reader, a scribe, and extended testing time.
If you require special accommodations to sit for a LEED professional exam, you must indicate this on your Exam
Application. To request accommodations, you and your health care provider will each need to complete one form
to document the disability and the need for accommodation. You must submit the Candidate and Provider Forms
with your application. Download the Candidate and Provider forms. These two forms require you to provide the
following information:
• Diagnosis and nature of the disability
• Name of tests used to evaluate the condition
• Length of the condition
• Date you were last seen by your health care provider
• Specific suggested accommodation(s)
There is no additional charge for special accommodations. Each request will be evaluated individually.
GBCI staff will review this documentation within 30 days of the submittal of your application and, if approved,
will alert Prometric of the necessary accommodations. Candidates who request special testing accommodations
for a LEED Professional Exam will not be able to schedule an appointment with Prometric until their request is
approved and arrangements have been made with Prometric. Candidates will be contacted by email regarding the
approval status of their special testing accommodations request.
Valid for May 2012GBCI Candidate Handbook 6
2) Applying for Your Exam
Student Pricing
If you are a full-time student at an accredited institution, and you are not already a USGBC or CaGBC national
member, you may still request member/student pricing ($150 per exam appointment for the LEED Green
Associate exam) by providing GBCI with a copy of your current student transcript. A copy of a current student ID.
is no longer required for student pricing requests.
This documentation can be e-mailed to GBCI Credentialing Staff at www.gbci.org/contact > Student Pricing or
faxed to (+1) 202 828 5110. You will not be able to register for or schedule any exam appointments until your
documentation is received and approved by GBCI.
If you are a full-time student but have already linked your account to a USGBC or CaGBC national
membership, you will automatically receive the member/student rate and you do not need to
request student pricing or provide documentation. Student pricing does not extend to the LEED AP exams.
Registering for an Exam
1. Go to My Credentials. This will prompt you to log in to your My Credentials account.
2. Select Register for an exam from your Current Options. (If you do not see this option, it means that you have
not applied for an exam or that your application has not yet been approved, was denied, or is expired.)
3. Select language (LEED Green Associate and LEED AP BD+C only)
4. Confirm that you understand for which exam you are registering and how to schedule an appointment.
5. Confirm that your member status is correct. The member discount is not automatically applied
retroactively to exam registrations that are submitted under non-member pricing. Please make
sure that this pricing is correct BEFORE continuing and generating eligibility ID. (For USGBC
members: update your member status by going to www.usgbc.org > Your Account > Membership;
for CaGBC members: update your member status by calling GBCI customer service at +1-202-
828-1145.)
6. You will receive on-screen notification that your exam registration is complete. Your eligibility ID will be
emailed to you and displayed on the main menu page of your My Credentials account once it has been
successfully communicated to Prometric (24-48 hours). You can use this number to schedule an exam
through Prometric, available at www.prometric.com/gbci; please see the Contact Information section for your
local Prometric phone number.
Candidates may register at any point during their one year application period through My Credentials at www.
gbci.org. There is no required waiting time between registrations during the application period; however,
candidates may have only one pending registration at any given time.
An eligibility ID is valid for one exam attempt. If you fail one or both parts of the exam, go to My Credentials
and select on “Register for a retake” to retest. However, if you fail to appear for or, due to a failure to present
proper identification, are denied access to a scheduled exam appointment, you must contact GBCI or Prometric
to reactivate your Eligibility ID so that you may schedule another appointment using the same Eligibility ID . (See
Failure to Appear for a Scheduled Exam.)
Valid for May 2012GBCI Candidate Handbook 7
2) Applying for Your Exam
Application Period
An approved application is valid for one year from the approval date. Candidates are allotted three registrations
per one-year application period. This means that a candidate has three chances to meet the minimum competency
scaled score of 170 for any given LEED professional credentialing exam while their application is active. For the
LEED Green Associate credential, this translates into three attempts at the exam during the one year application
period.
After an application expires, candidates are required to wait 90 days before submitting a new application to GBCI.
This means that if a candidate does not earn the credential with their allotted registrations, or if a candidate
allows their application period to expire without using their registrations, they must wait 90 days to reapply. If
a candidate’s application period expires, they must once again demonstrate eligibility for their chosen credential
route when they reapply.
Application Extension
Candidates may request an extension of the one year application period for LEED Professional Credential and
Certificate programs due to extenuating circumstances. GBCI will review requests for an extension of the one year
application period on a case-by-case basis. Candidates must submit a written request which includes the basis for
the request and supporting third party documentation or attestation to GBCI at www.gbci.org/contact or by mail.
GBCI will only consider requests received before the application expires, but no earlier than 30 days before the
end of the application period. Extensions are granted only once per application with a maximum of a six month
extension.
Extensions are usually granted for the following circumstances:
• Documented illness or health condition for candidate or care for an immediate family member (spouse,
child, or parent) with a serious health condition
• Disabling traffic accident
• Death in the immediate family
• Birth and care of a newborn child
• Placement with the candidate of a child for adoption or foster care
• Court appearance or jury duty
• Military duty
• Extended period of unemployment after your application approval date
• Excused test appointment absence during the final thirty days of application (i.e. problems at test center or
weather related closure of test center)
GBCI reserves the right to decline a request for an application extension for any reason.
Valid for May 2012GBCI Candidate Handbook 8
3) Preparing for Your Exam
Exam Information
A LEED Green Associate is an individual who has passed the exam and possesses the knowledge and skill to
understand and support green design, construction, and operations.
GBCI contracts with a test development firm to develop and deliver the LEED professional credentialing exams.
The development of a valid exam begins with a clear and concise definition of the knowledge, skills and abilities
needed in order to successfully serve as a LEED Green Associate. Psychometricians work with experts in the green
building industry to identify critical components of the roles and responsibilities of an individual supporting the
LEED certification process.
All LEED professional credentialing exams are valid and reliable. Validity means that the exam is able to measure
that which it is supposed to measure. Reliability is an index of how accurately the exam measures a candidate’s
skills. A test must be both valid and reliable to be considered a well-developed exam. The LEED Green Associate
exam accurately assesses each candidate’s ability to carry out the required responsibilities of a LEED Green
Associate.
Exam Item Development
Extensive test statistics are calculated in the process of determining test validity and reliability. This includes careful
analysis of every item on all LEED Professional Credentialing exams. Exam questions are developed and validated
by global work groups of Subject Matter Experts, are referenced to current standards and resources, are developed
and monitored through psychometric analysis, and satisfy the test development specifications of a job analysis.
All LEED Professional Credentialing exams assess candidates’ abilities at three hierarchical cognitive levels:
Recognition, Application, and Analysis. It is not necessary to know an items’ cognitive level, and an item’s
cognitive level may not be obvious. It is only important that candidates understand that these different cognitive
levels are assessed so that candidates can demonstrate both the breadth and depth of their knowledge as it pertains
to the test specifications. The following definitions do not represent strict divisions between item types but are
meant to be explanatory guidelines so that candidates understand the various levels at which they may have to
demonstrate knowledge.
• Recognition Items: These items assess a candidate’s ability to recall factual material that is presented
in a similar context to the exam references.
• Application Items: These items provide the candidate with a novel problem or scenario that the
candidate can solve using familiar principles or procedures described in the exam references.
• Analysis Items: These items assess a candidate’s ability to break the problem down into its
components to create a solution. The candidate must not only recognize the different elements of
the problem, but must also evaluate the relationship or interactions of these elements.
Exams are comprised of both scored and unscored items. All items are delivered randomly
throughout the exam and candidates are not informed of an item’s status, so candidates should
respond to all the items on the exam. Unscored items are placed in an exam in order to gather performance
data to inform whether the item should be scored on future exams.
Valid for May 2012GBCI Candidate Handbook 9
3) Preparing for Your Exam
Exam Language
GBCI offers the LEED Green Associate and the LEED AP BD+C exams in English or French. All other exams are in
English only. The use of translators or foreign-language dictionaries during the examination will not be permitted.
Additional time to complete the exam will not be provided.
Determining the Passing Score
A valid credentialing exam must have a defensible passing score. The cut score that separates candidates who have
not mastered the content must be based on the minimum level of knowledge required as set forth by Subject
Matter Experts. The performance of Beta testers was analyzed by professional psychometricians to gain statistics
about item performance. The final cut score recommendation was then determined by a group of test development
experts and volunteer Subject Matter Experts using the Angoff Method. The final cut score is approved by the GBCI
Credentialing Steering Committee.
Exam Fees
Examination fees cover the costs of testing center coordination and staffing, examination development, review,
production and scoring. Prometric accepts electronic credit or debit card payment methods. Prometric does not
currently accept checks for payment for the LEED Professional exams. Prometric charges the exam fee at the time
of scheduling. The exam fee for the LEED Green Associate, per appointment, is:
• USGBC national members/full-time students: $150
• All others: $200
Please note that candidates cannot change the credit or debit card information for the payment of a scheduled
Prometric appointment without cancelling the appointment with Prometric first.
NOTE TO MEMBERS: The member discount is not automatically applied retroactively to exam registrations that
are submitted under non-member pricing. Please make sure that this pricing is correct BEFORE registering. (For
USGBC members: update your member status by going to www.usgbc.org > Your Account > Membership; for
CaGBC members: update your member status by calling GBCI customer service at +1-202-828-1145.)
Exam Format
The LEED Green Associate exam is designed to measure your skills and knowledge against criteria developed
by Subject Matter Experts and to assess your knowledge and skill to understand and support green design,
construction, and operations. The LEED Green Associate exam is comprised of 100 randomly delivered multiple
choice questions and must be completed in 2 hours; total seat time for the LEED Green Associate exam will be 2
hours and 20 minutes including a tutorial and short satisfaction survey.
Valid for May 2012GBCI Candidate Handbook 10
3) Preparing for Your Exam
Exam Timing
While you are permitted up to 2 hours to complete the LEED Green Associate, be prepared to commit 2 hours and
20 minutes to the entire process. Total exam time is broken out as follows: an optional 10 minute tutorial, the 2
hour exam, and an optional 10 minute exit survey.
Specifications
The specifications for each section of the LEED Green Associate exam are organized to include a list of domains
and their corresponding knowledge areas. This structure provides the volunteer Subject Matter Experts with
a framework to guide the development of exam items to assess whether a candidate is capable of performing
specific tasks and services.
The following outline provides a general description of exam content areas for the LEED Green Associate exam:
I. Synergistic Opportunities and LEED Application Process
A. Project Requirements (e.g., site; program; budget; schedule)
B. Costs (e.g., hard costs; soft costs; life-cycle)
C. Green Resources (e.g., USGBC; Environmental Building News)
D. Standards that support LEED Credit (e.g., American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-conditioning
Engineers [ASHRAE]; Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors National Association [SMACNA]
guidelines; Green Seal)
E. Credit Interactions (e.g., energy and IEQ; waste management)
F. Credit Interpretation Rulings/Requests and precedents that lead to exemplary performance credits
G. Components of LEED Online and Project Registration
H. Components of LEED Score Card
I. Components of Letter Templates (e.g., project calculations; supplementary documentation)
J. Strategies to Achieve Credit
K. Project Boundary; LEED Boundary; Property Boundary
L. Prerequisites and/or Minimum Program Requirements for LEED Certification
M. Preliminary Rating (target certification level)
N. Multiple Certifications for Same Building (e.g., Operations & Maintenance for certified building new
construction; core and shell and commercial interior; certified building in neighborhood development)
O. Occupancy Requirements (e.g., existing building--building must be fully occupied for 12 continuous
months as described in minimum program requirements)
P. USGBC Policies (e.g., trademark usage; logo usage)
Q. Requirements to Earn LEED AP Credit
Valid for May 2012GBCI Candidate Handbook 11
3) Preparing for Your Exam
II. Project Site Factors
A. Community Connectivity
1. Transportation (e.g., public transportation; bike storage; fuel efficient vehicle parking; parking capacity;
car pool parking; car share membership [e.g. Zipcar™]; shuttles; carts)
2. Pedestrian Access (e.g., circulation and accessibility such as cross walks; ramps; and trails)
B. Zoning Requirements (e.g., density components such as calculations -site area and floor area ratio;
construction limits; open space; building footprint; development footprint; specific landscaping restrictions)
C. Development
1. Heat Islands (e.g., non-roof; roof; Solar Reflectance Index [SRI]; emissivity; albedo; heat island effect;
green roofs)
III. Water Management
A. Types and Quality of Water (e.g., potable; graywater; blackwater; stormwater)
B. Water Management (e.g., water use reduction through fixtures such as water closets; urinals; sinks; lavatory
faucets; showers; harvesting; baseline water demand; calculations of Full Time Equivalent; irrigation)
IV. Project Systems and Energy Impacts
A. Environmental Concerns (e.g., chlorofluorocarbon [CFC] reduction, no refrigerant option, ozone depletion,
fire suppressions without halons or CFC’s, phase-out plan, Hydrochlorofluorocarbons [HCFC])
B. Green Power (e.g., off-site generated, renewable energy certificates, Green-e providers)
V. Acquisition, Installation, and Management of Project Materials
A. Recycled Materials (e.g., pre-consumer, post-consumer, collection requirements, commingled)
B. Locally (regionally) Harvested and Manufactured Materials
C. Construction Waste Management (e.g., written plan; accounted by weight or volume; reduction strategies;
polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) removal and Asbestos-containing materials (ACM) management)
VI. Stakeholder Involvement in Innovation
A. Integrated Project Team Criteria (architect, heating-ventilation-air-conditioning [HVAC] engineer, landscape
architect, civil engineer, contractor, Facility Manager)
B. Durability Planning and Management (e.g., material lifecycle, building re-use)
C. Innovative and Regional Design (regional green design and construction measures as appropriate and
established requirements)
VII. Project Surroundings and Public Outreach
A. Codes (e.g., building, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, fire protection)
Valid for May 2012GBCI Candidate Handbook 12
3) Preparing for Your Exam
References
The primary sources for the development of the LEED professional credentialing exams are the LEED Rating
Systems. The following list of references is not meant to be comprehensive. When combined with the test
specifications, the candidate has the material from which the exam is based.
The LEED Green Associate examination is designed to test the general knowledge of green building practices and
how to support other professionals working on LEED projects.
References*
• Green Building & LEED Core Concepts Guide, 1st OR 2nd edition** (available at www.usgbc.org/store)
• Green Office Guide: Integrating LEED Into Your Leasing Process, Section 2.4 (2009)
• LEED 2009 for New Construction and Major Renovations Rating System (2009)
• LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance Reference Guide, Introduction (2009)
• LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance Reference Guide, Glossary (2008)
• LEED for Homes Rating System (2008)
• Cost of Green Revisited, by Davis Langdon (2007)
• Sustainable Building Technical Manual: Part II by Anthony Bernheim and William Reed (1996)
• The Treatment by LEED® of the Environmental Impact of HVAC Refrigerants (LEED Technical and Scientific
Advisory Committee, 2004)
• Guidance on Innovation & Design (ID) Credits (2004)
• Credit Interpretation Rulings (gbci.org)
• Guide to Purchasing Green Power (2004)
• LEED 2009 for Operations & Maintenance Rating System (2009)
• LEED 2009 Minimum Program Requirements (2009)
• Construction Carbon Calculator (buildcarbonneutral.org)
* You should also be familiar with the content of the U.S. Green Building Council’s Website, usgbc.org, and GBCI’s
website, gbci.org, including but not limited to LEED Project Registration, LEED Certification content, and the
purpose of LEED Online. The U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED website, usgbc.org/LEED, also has free access
to LEED Rating Systems, LEED Reference guide Introductions, and Checklists beyond those listed above. You will
also find a list of abbreviations and acronyms in the LEED for Homes Rating System on pages 105–106 and
a helpful glossary of terms on pages 107–114.
** In July 2011, USGBC will release the second edition of the Green Building and LEED Core Concepts Guide,
which expands on its existing content. The test specifications and exam content have not changed. However, as
part of our regular update, exam questions will be drawn from the second edition beginning in December 2011.
At that point, only the second edition will be listed among the above references.
Valid for May 2012GBCI Candidate Handbook 13
3) Preparing for Your Exam
Sample Questions
Disclaimer: The items listed here were discarded in the process of creating items for the LEED Green Associate
exam. The items are provided for your convenience to allow you to better familiarize yourself with the format and
general content of items on the exam.
The content of these items, while representative of the type of questions on the LEED Green Associate exam, does
not necessarily mirror the content that will appear on the actual exam. Further, your ability to correctly answer
these sample items does not in any way predict or guarantee your ability to successfully answer questions on the
actual LEED Green Associate exam.
Questions: Answers:
1: What Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) program 1: What Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) program
set standards for low-emitting carpets, adhesives, set standards for low-emitting carpets, adhesives,
and pads? and pads?
A. Green Seal D. Green Label Plus
B. Green Guard
This question aligns itself with:
C. Green-e Certified
I. Synergistic Opportunities and LEED Application
D. Green Label Plus
Process
D. Standards that support LEED credit
2: Why should a green project be located in an 2: Why should a green project be located in an
existing community? existing community?
A. Adequate parking is available on site. D. The connection to basic community resources is
B. The zoning approval for the project is easier. present.
C. Native plantings can be used for erosion control.
This question aligns itself with:
D. The connection to basic community resources is
II. Project Site Factors
present.
B. Community connectivity
2. Pedestrian Access
3: Graywater is most often used for: 3: Graywater is most often used for:
A. drinking. B. irrigation.
B. irrigation.
This question aligns itself with:
C. dishwashers.
III. Water Management
D. swimming pools.
A. Types and quality of water
4: What refrigerant contributes the most to 4: What refrigerant contributes the most to
global warming potential (GWP)? global warming potential (GWP)?
A. HFC-23 A. HFC-23
B. CFC-12 This question aligns itself with:
C. Propane IV. Project Systems and Energy Impacts
D. HCFC-123 A. Environmental concerns
Valid for May 2012GBCI Candidate Handbook 14
3) Preparing for Your Exam
5: A general contractor (GC) attempts a credit in 5: A general contractor (GC) attempts a credit in
Local or Regional Materials and discovers that Local or Regional Materials and discovers that
the specified product has only a portion of the the specified product has only a portion of the
material manufactured within the required material manufactured within the required
radius. What should the GC do? radius. What should the GC do?
A. Not list the product D. List only the portion within the required radius
B. Not use the product This question aligns itself with:
C. List the entire product V. Acquisition, Installation, and Management of Project
D. List only the portion within the required radius Materials
B. Locally (regionally) harvested and manufactured
materials
6: What is the legal instrument that regulates 6: What is the legal instrument that regulates
current land use? current land use?
A. Zoning A. Zoning
B. Licensing This question aligns itself with:
C. Abatement VII. Project Surroundings and Public Outreach
D. Commissioning A. Codes
Valid for May 2012GBCI Candidate Handbook 15
4) Scheduling Your Exam
Exam Scheduling
1. Go to www.prometric.com/gbci to schedule an exam appointment. Enter your Eligibility ID to proceed with
selecting a test site, scheduling a date and time and entering payment information.
2. When the exam appointment is scheduled, you will receive a confirmation number onscreen and from
Prometric through an email. Record your confirmation number. You will need this confirmation number to
confirm, cancel, or reschedule your appointment through the Prometric website, www.prometric.com/gbci.
You will not be able to confirm, reschedule, or cancel with your Eligibility ID. Once you have scheduled an
exam, please print your confirmation notice from Prometric.
Keep your confirmation notice for any communication with Prometric about your exam.
If you do not receive a confirmation email from Prometric, please call Prometric customer service. Please see the
Contact Information section for your local Prometric phone number.
Confirm, Cancel, or Reschedule Exam Appointment
You can confirm, cancel, or reschedule your exam appointment through one of two ways: visit www.prometric.
com/gbci anytime and follow the on-screen instructions (this is the recommended method), or call Prometric
customer service. Please see the Contact Information section for your local Prometric phone number.
To change or cancel your reservation you must do so through Prometric no later than midnight on the third
day before your scheduled examination. You will need your confirmation to reschedule or cancel. All exam
appointments cancelled/rescheduled 30 days or less before the examination date are charged a $50 fee. If you do
not receive a new confirmation number from Prometric, contact them immediately to confirm that
your appointment has been successfully cancelled/rescheduled. Leaving a message at the local test center
or contacting GBCI are NOT acceptable methods of cancelling/rescheduling your appointment. After canceling
your exam appointment, you will receive a refund of the exam fee from Prometric. If you do not receive a refund
within 5 business days, contact Prometric; GBCI does not handle fee refunds due to cancelation.
Exam Appointment Reschedule/Cancel Deadline
Monday Previous Friday, by 11:59 pm
Tuesday Previous Saturday, by 11:59 pm
Wednesday Previous Sunday, by 11:59 pm
Thursday Previous Monday, by 11:59 pm
Friday Previous Tuesday, by 11:59 pm
Saturday Previous Wednesday, by 11:59 pm
Sunday Previous Thursday, by 11:59 pm
Your GBCI account does not have a real-time link to Prometric. Please do not check your GBCI account or contact
GBCI for Prometric appointment information. Your My Credentials account will not display your appointment
information, until after your exam has been delivered and your results have been returned from Prometric. Your
GBCI account will show your exam results as “Pending” until GBCI receives your test results from Prometric.
Valid for May 2012GBCI Candidate Handbook 16
4) Scheduling Your Exam
Failing to Appear for a Scheduled Exam
If you are absent from an exam appointment that you were scheduled to attend, and you did not reschedule or
cancel according to the policy, or if you are denied access to an appointment due to a failure to present proper
identification, you must contact GBCI or Prometric to reactivate your Eligibility ID so that you may schedule
another appointment using the same Eligibility ID. Candidates who are denied entrance to the appointment or
who miss a scheduled exam appointment are responsible for all exam fees.
All candidates seeking excused absences based on an emergency situation must contact Prometric’s candidate
care within 10 days of the original examination date. Please see the Contact Information section for your local
Prometric phone number. Prometric will require that you fax documentation of the emergency in order to excuse
the absence. Inclement weather is not acceptable as an excused absence unless the test center was closed (see next
page). If, on the day of your exam, you are unable to attend the examination for which you are scheduled, you
may be excused and be allowed to retest without charge for the following reasons:
• Documented illness, either yourself or immediate family member
• Death in the immediate family
• Disabling traffic accident
• Court appearance or jury duty
• Military duty
Examples of acceptable documentation for excused absences:
Illness: Doctor’s note, emergency room admittance, etc.
• Must be signed by a licensed doctor
• Must include the date of the medical visit
• Must include contact information for the licensed doctor
• Does not need to give details of the illness or emergency, but if it does not, the doctor should at
least indicate that the candidate should not test.
Death in the Family: Death certificate or doctor’s note
• Must be signed by a licensed doctor or mortician
• Must include the date
• Must include contact information for the doctor or mortician
Traffic Accidents: Police report, receipt from the mechanic or towing company
• Must include the date
• Must include contact information
Court Appearance: Court or jury summons, subpoena
• Must include the date
• Must specifically name the candidate
Military Duty
• Must have the date
• Must specifically name the candidate
This list is not exhaustive.
Valid for May 2012GBCI Candidate Handbook 17
4) Scheduling Your Exam
Inclement Weather or Other Emergencies
Test administration will be delayed or cancelled only in emergencies. If severe weather or a natural disaster makes
the test center inaccessible or unsafe, the test administration may be cancelled. In the event of test center closings
due to inclement weather, candidates will be contacted by Prometric to reschedule their appointment free of
charge.
Bulk Scheduling
To schedule five or more candidates at one time, you may use Prometric’s Bulk Registration process. First,
candidates should individually apply and register for the exam at My Credentials. (See Applying for an Exam and
Registering for an Exam.)
Go to www.prometric.com/gbci, select “Schedule Exam”, select your location, and click Bulk Registration.
Enter each candidate’s Eligibility ID number and provide payment information to pay the exam fees in bulk.
Alternatively, call Prometric’s Bulk Registration line and provide each candidate’s Eligibility ID number over the
phone. Please see the Contact Information section for your local Prometric phone number.
Valid for May 2012GBCI Candidate Handbook 18
5) Pre-Exam Checklist
Are You Ready?
One Month Before Your Exam
Ensure that your given name (first name) and surname (last name) in My Credentials matches the
given name and surname on the identification you will present at the test center. (See next page.)
If the names do not match, you will not be allowed to test and you will forfeit the exam fee.
If you have a documented disability that would prevent you from taking a LEED Professional Exam
under standard conditions, you may request a reasonable accommodation as required by the
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Prometric certifies that it shall comply with the provisions
of the ADA. (See Special Testing Accommodations for more information.)
Review the address listed in your My Credentials profile so that, if you successfully pass, your
certificate is mailed to the most current address. (See Certificates for more information.) To edit
your address, go to My Credentials > Update Profile.
One Week Before Your Exam
Confirm that the exam scheduled with Prometric is for the correct date, time, and location. If it is
not, contact Prometric online at www.prometric.com/gbci with your confirmation number or call
Prometric’s customer service. Please see the Contact Information section for your local Prometric
phone number.
Please note that GBCI does NOT handle scheduling. Do NOT contact GBCI to confirm,
reschedule, or cancel an exam appointment. Prometric requires TWO FULL DAYS before your
exam to cancel or reschedule. (See the Scheduling Your Exam section.)
Ensure that your given name (first name) and surname (last name) in My Credentials matches the
given name and surname on the identification you will present at the test center. (See next page.)
If the names do not match, you will not be allowed to test and you will forfeit the exam fee.
Be prepared to leave all personal items in a small locker outside the testing room. (See What to
Expect at the Test Center.)
Read and understand this Candidate Handbook, including all policies, procedures, and
consequences.
Valid for May 2012GBCI Candidate Handbook 19
6) The Day of Your Exam
Identification Requirements
Candidates must provide valid, unexpired ID with a signature, a photograph that looks like the candidate, and an
expiration date. Acceptable examples include:
Identification with photo and Identification with Identification with
signature signature A photo
Passport
OR
Signed Check Card N Alien ID Card
Driver’s License Signed Credit Card Employee ID Card
Military ID
D Student ID
Signed Photo Check or Credit Card
Unacceptable forms of ID include but are not limited to an expired ID, an ID without an expiration date, and a
Social Security Card.
Name Requirements
Your given name (first name) and surname (last name) in My Credentials must match the given
name (first name) and surname (last name) on the identification you will present at the test center.
If the names do not match, you will not be allowed to test and you will forfeit the exam fee. To
change your name, contact GBCI at www.gbci.org/contact > Name Changes or at 1-800-795-1746, within the
US or +1-202-828-1145, outside the US.
The following examples are examples of non-compliance with the name policy and are NOT allowed to test:
Nicknames Michael Jones ≠ Mike Jones
James Smith ≠ Jimmy Smith
Missing given name Sarah Catherine Black ≠ Catherine Black
John Robert Butler ≠ Robert Butler
Different given name Lee Chang ≠ John Chang
Different surname Diane Cooper ≠ Diane Gray
Initial(s) instead of given name D. J. Baker ≠ Daniel Jonathan Baker
M. Jason Watson ≠ Mark Jason Watson
Informal given names Skip Taylor ≠ Robert Taylor
Misspellings/Typos Thomas Mikker ≠ Thomas Miller
For candidates whose names conform to the cultural naming customs of using two surnames or the cultural
naming customs of placing the surname before the given name, the following are allowable:
Two surnames Jose Garcia Flores = Jose Garcia
Jose Garcia Flores = Jose Flores
Surname preceding given name Lee Ming = Ming Lee
Valid for May 2012GBCI Candidate Handbook 20
6) The Day of Your Exam
Computer-Based Testing
The LEED Professional Exams are computer-based tests, but candidates do not need extensive computer experience
to take a test. Exam questions and answer options are displayed on screen. The computer records your responses
and times your exam. You are able to change your answers, skip questions, and flag questions for later review.
Before starting the exam, you will have the option of taking a short tutorial to familiarize yourself with the
computer testing environment. You will have ten minutes to spend on this tutorial. This time will not be deducted
from the time you are allotted to the complete the exam. Test site proctors are available to answer questions you
may have about the computer-based testing system, but they cannot answer questions about the content of the
exam itself. GBCI encourages candidates to participate in the tutorial in order to familiarize themselves with the
exam format. Be aware that if a candidate exits the exam session, the exam cannot be restarted.
In the event that a software or hardware problem occurs before or during the test, please wait to see if the test
center administrator, with assistance from Prometric technical support, can resolve the problem. In the event a
computer must be restarted, the computer software has been designed to suspend testing time until the computer
is operating again. If your exam cannot be administered because of technical difficulties, your exam will be
rescheduled at your earliest convenience.
Test Security
To ensure the integrity of the LEED Professional Exams, specific measures are enforced during the administration
of your exam. Before taking the examination you will be required to accept a nondisclosure agreement which
prohibits any disclosure of exam content:
• Test questions and answers are the exclusive property of GBCI.
• The examination and the items (questions and answers) are protected by copyright law. The
exam may not be copied or reproduced in part or in whole, by any means whatsoever, including
memorization.
• Future discussion or disclosure of the content of the exam, orally or in writing, or by any other
means, is prohibited.
• Theft or attempted theft of exam items is punishable to the fullest extent of the law.
Failure to comply with the agreement will prevent you from testing.
You will be observed at all times while taking the exam. This may include direct observation by test center staff,
as well as audio and video recording of your exam session. Your participation in irregular behavior in or around
the test center during the exam may result in invalidation of the results of your examination, termination of your
candidate status, civil liability, criminal prosecution, or other appropriate sanctions.
Valid for May 2012GBCI Candidate Handbook 21
6) The Day of Your Exam
What to Expect at the Test Center
It is recommended that you arrive at the test center at least 30 minutes prior to your scheduled exam appointment
to get settled, check in, and begin the tutorial. Candidates who arrive at test site after their scheduled exam times
will lose their reservations and be considered absent, and the policy for Failure to Appear for a Scheduled Exam
will apply.
Your test session should begin within 30 minutes of your scheduled appointment. If circumstances arise at the test
site that delay your test session more than 30 minutes after your scheduled appointment time, you will be given
the choice of continuing to wait or rescheduling your appointment.
You will be escorted to a workstation by test center staff. You must remain in your seat during the exam except when
authorized to leave by test center staff. Raise your hand to notify test center staff if:
• You experience problems with your computer
• An error message appears on the computer screen (do not clear the message)
• You need to take a break (testing time will NOT be suspended)
• You need the test center staff for any other reason
In the event that you encounter negative conditions at the test site such as HVAC failures, excessive noise, or
technology malfunctions we recommend that you immediately notify the proctor and request that the issue is
documented in an Incident Report. Be sure to record the Incident Report number. In unlikely cases where such
conditions may occur, it does not modify or change the required passing score.
To report a problem with your exam experience, report the incident with the proctor at the test site and call
candidate care within 10 days of the original examination date. Please see the Contact Information section for
your local Prometric phone number.
Test Center Regulations
Nothing may be brought into the exam room with you. Small lockers are provided for candidates to secure purses,
wallets, keys, cellular telephones, pagers, etc. Lockers will not accommodate briefcases, laptop computers or large
purses and bags.
• No papers, books, food, beverages, bags (including pocketbooks and purses), or electronic devices
(including calculators) are allowed in the exam room. A calculator will be provided on-screen.
• Eating, drinking, and tobacco use are prohibited in the exam room.
• Unauthorized paper may not be brought into or removed from the exam room (dry erase markers,
eraser, and writing surface will be provided by the test site staff and collected at the conclusion of
your exam).
• You may not leave the exam room during your exam without the test proctor’s permission. If you
leave the building during your exam, the test proctor will terminate your exam session.
• You must present your photo ID each time you enter the exam room.
Valid for May 2012GBCI Candidate Handbook 22
6) The Day of Your Exam
Grounds for Dismissal from the Test Center
Any candidate who engages in misconduct or does not comply with the test proctor’s warning to discontinue
inappropriate behavior may be dismissed from the test site, have exam results invalidated, or be subject to
other appropriate sanctions. Fraud, deceit, dishonesty, or other irregular behavior in connection with taking the
exam is strictly prohibited. Irregular behavior includes, but is not limited to, copying or allowing the copying
of examination content, failing to work independently, possessing unauthorized devices or source materials,
surrogate testing or other dishonest conduct, disrupting other examinees, and possessing, reproducing, or
disclosing exam questions, answers, or other information regarding the content of the examination. The following
behaviors are considered to be misconduct:
• Giving or receiving assistance of any kind
• Communication with other examinees or with any outside source by way of telephone, personal
computer, internet, or any other means during the course of the exam is prohibited.
• Use or suspected use of any prohibited aids (any device that would provide an advantage while
taking the exam) during the examination period. This includes but is not limited to LEED
Reference Guides, notes, exam references, study materials, practice exams, etc.
• Attempting to take the exam for another person
• Creating a disturbance of any kind
• Removing or attempting to remove examination questions, answers, or notes about the exam, in
any format, from the exam room
• Tampering with the operation of the computer
• Failure to comply with the exam regulations of the test proctor
The chief proctor is authorized to take appropriate action to investigate, stop, or correct an observed or suspected
irregular behavior or misconduct, including discharging examinees from the exam site and confiscation of any
prohibited devices or materials. Examinees or any other persons implicated in an irregularity will be reported to
GBCI for further action.
GBCI will make a ruling based on the consideration of both the candidate’s report and Prometric’s report of the
incident. To appeal GBCI’s ruling, send an email of your formal appeal to GBCI staff at www.gbci.org/contact. At
this stage, the Credentialing Steering Committee will review and make a final ruling on the case.
Valid for May 2012You can also read
